Maldives blast: Former president Mohamed Nasheed in critical condition

Maldives’ first democratically elected president and current Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed is now in a critical condition after he was injured in a blast on Thursday, May 6, near his home. Maldives police said that they treat the explosion as an act of terrorism but did not give details on possible suspects or the bomb device. As of now, no one has claimed responsibility for the blast. Nasheed, who is now 53, became the first democratically elected leader of the Maldives after a 30-year autocratic rule.

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He served as president from the year 2008 to 2012.  He resigned amid protests in the region. His party colleague, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, won the vote. Nasheed remained an influential figure and was elected Parliament speaker in 2019

According to the reports by AP, Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed said that the police did not detect any military-grade components in the explosives used. However, the police are trying to identify four possible suspects but no arrests have been made. 

Nasheed has championed global efforts to fight climate change, particularly rising seas threatening the low-lying islands of his archipelago nation. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in a tweet described the blast as an attack on Nasheed. Jaishankar wrote, "Deeply concerned at the attack on Speaker @MohamedNasheed. Wish him a speedy recovery. Know that he will never be intimidated".

(Image Credits: AP)